Poinsettia



Dec. 12, 1933. H, L. BERMAN 1,938,736

POINSETTIA Filed March 24, 1933 dltoz ne 11 warren STATES oFFlcE l-Po11-rsn'1"rrll y Baltimore, Md., assignor to Harry L. Berman,

American Decorative Flower Co. Inc., Baltimore, Md., a `corporationof Maryland applicati@ March 24, 1,933. serial No. A662,621 s Gummi.` (c1. 24o-1o) This invention relates to` illuminatedv artiflcial flowers and the method of making the same.

The particular object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of poinsettias and to produce at a relatively lowcost an illuminated flower that is more and one that has being useful as an a brilliant than the natural bloom the additional advantage of ttractive illuminated decoration especially desirable at Christmas time.

In the drawingz Figure 1 is a view of a simple embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a partly exploded view of the flower with the parts arranged for assembly.

Figure 3 shows the first few steps of the assembly completed.

Figure 4 shows the In order to give the flower partly nished.

flower a natural appearance, I provide a base 10 which is illustrated in its preferred form, although I may use ample, an ordinary that iS,

ya twig flower basket, any kind of pottery, for exclay flower pot or even a paper flower pot. This container is filled with imitation soil represen ted by excelsior or artificial the stems 12, 13 and 14 erect. The basket or pot may be weighted with sand 15 or the like, and

filling of moss can coarse excelsior or old top of the sand and the light bulb 18 for economy the full be replaced by a filling of newspapers 16 placed on this filling then covered with the top.

of from six to twelvered overlapping position around which is preferably colored red; between the bulb and the petals are the stamens 19. The leaves the stems 12, 13 and mation as is natural though I have illustrated a 20 are positioned along 14 in sessile alternate forwith the poinsettia. Al-

single flower stem,

it is obvious that any number may be used and also any amount of foliage may be used depending on the effect and amount of color desired.

My method of making For the main stem or stalk I use a the flower is as follows:

piece of relatively stifr paper covered wire 21 which I cap with a single turn 23 and over this p 22 of adhesive insulating tape lace an electric light socket 24 to which is attached in the usual manner the duplex cord 25 having on its lower end a plug 26 for connecting with an ordinary plug outlet. The socket is of the tape which sticky on the outside known tire or friction tape.

held in position by a turn 2'7 tape is preferably slightly as is common with the well This sticky surface assists greatly in holding the first few stamens 19 and leaves 17 in place while the others are being.positioned and while a vsecond layer ofV tape is applied over `the stems so held as shown in Figure 3.`

Four or ve petals l'l'may beheld in position 6c by the same layer of tape used to secure the stamens in place, thus making the calix less bulky or alternatively all the petals may be attached after the stamens are in place by applying their stems 28 to the second layer and cover- 65 ing with a third turn, it being understood that the tape is not cut until all the petals are attached or it even may be continued to the end of the stalk 2l if the leaves are placed thereon as the winding takes place. However, in order to save time as well as tape, I prefer to attach the leaves by a covering of crepe paper 29 which not only hides the friction tape at the calix but also binds the duplex conductor cord 25 to the Wire 21. The paper is preferably ap- 75 plied in the same manner as the tape, i. e., by wrapping a narrow strip of it around the stalk in an overlapping helix as shown in Figure 4. Since the leaf stems 28 are relatively long the several turns of crepe paper hold the leaves securely to the stalk especially since the paper is resilient and therefore it is unnecessary to use a turnof friction tape for this purpose.

The sticky surface of the frictibn tape at the calix serves the additional function of holding the crepe paper firmly in place at the start so that no gluing or other fastening means is necessary. In fact the crepe paper itself is so resilient that two or three turns will hold the entire flower together without the use of any friction tape but Where the tape is dispensed with I use a layer of corn husk to insulate the socket; the rough surface of the husk aids in holding the parts in place While the crepe paper is applied.

In the natural flower the petals are of different sizes and I prefer to maintain this characteristic by providing three sizes of petals as shown in Figure 2; the smaller petals 1'?8L are preferably placed on with the stamens 19, then the k intermediate size 1'?b are attached and finally on the outside are placed the large petals 17.

If the flowers are to be shipped to branch stores or shops the leaves and petals are left lying as wrapped, i. e., parallel along the stem, since in this form they take up less room and are much less likely to be damaged when packed in large bundles. But if the iiower is to be sold to local trade the leaves and petals are bent to their natural position, i.e., about normal to the stalk, as soon as the crepe paper is applied. The lower unwrapped end of the stalk 30 is thrust into the excelsior 16, the cord 25 is pushed down against the latter and then a covering of green moss 11 is laid over all so that every portion of the article has a natural appearance.

What Ilclaim is: Y

1. The method of making an illuminated artificial iiower which consists in covering'the top portion of an electrically wired stem andas.

lamp socket at the top thereof with a turn of y friction insulating tape, pressing a number lciA stamen stems against said Atape whereby .the stamens are held in position, continuing the tape a second turn, sticking the stems of :afplurality of petals to the second turn and then continuing the tape a third 'tln'n Jand 'na'lly covering the third turn and the rest `of the stem with an overlapping helix of crepe paper.

2. An illuminated flower :comprislngfa-stem, .a socket Y on -the A end of fthe stem, a @pair lof :conductors connected to the fsocket :and 'lying along the stem, means for holding the socket .in ",position and for holding theconductors against the nectei thereto, arranging said stem, said means having a sticky outer surface, a series of petals distributed around the socket and having their stems held by said surface, means holding the stems against said surface and a connector on the free end of said cord.

3. 'Ihe method; of making an illuminated artificial flower whichfconsists in placing a bare Plamp socket at fthe top of a stem,;said socket having a pair of electrical conductors conconductors along fsaid stem, wrapping a turn of friction insulating tape around said socket, the top of the stem, and 'a *portion of the conductors to thereby insulate .the socket Yand secure it to the stem, pressing a n'urn'ber of stamen `Stems against said turn of .tape whereby Athe Vstamens are held in position around the socket, continuing said tape a sec- `'ond turn over -said-stamen stems, sticking the stems of a plurality of petals to said second turn of tape and then continuing the tape a :third `turn vto cover :the petal -stems and y*nally covering the .third 'turn and a :portion Aof .the fstemfand conductors :with an overlapping helix Aof Lcrepe fpaper.

HARRY L. BERMAN. 

